LONG BEACH NOTEBOOK / JASON REID : Mays Returns to Old Self on the Court

Reserve senior point guard Tye Mays started slowly because he wasn’t allowed to start at the beginning. Now that he’s been around for a while, Mays is back to being himself.

Mays received some poor counseling from school officials and was ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA for the 49ers’ first three games. Since returning to the lineup Dec. 21, Mays has been a positive force.

He played his best game this season Saturday in Long Beach’s 79-70 Big West Conference victory over Cal State Fullerton, scoring 13 points with three assists.

“Some guys run the offense and some guys understand what we’re trying to get done,” Coach Seth Greenberg said. “Tye is a guy who understands what we’re doing.”

Because of a left ankle injury to guard Everett Ratleff, Greenberg at times teamed Mays, who started five games last season, with starting junior point guard Rasul Salahuddin.

“We’re a faster team with me and ‘Sul in there,” Mays said. “He got out on the wing, I got out on the wing and the team got going.”